Honoring Our Veterans Underwater

Circle of Heroes at Veteran's Reef

The Circle of Heroes is the nation’s first underwater memorial dedicated to honoring our veterans. Envisioned by Dr. Heyward Mathews, a renowned marine biologist and founder of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, this monument lies 10 miles off Clearwater Beach.

Thirteen life-size statues representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard form a 100-foot circle, resting 40 feet below the surface. This living reef stands as both a tribute to our heroes and a sanctuary for marine life. Our vision is to expand the memorial to 24 statues.

Plan Your Dive

Dive into history and honor at the Circle of Heroes, a first-of-its-kind underwater memorial dedicated to our nation’s veterans. Located 40 feet below the surface, this peaceful site is a place of remembrance and reflection for all certified levels.

Learn more about the dive site details and local charter options.

Support the Mission

The Circle of Heroes memorial is maintained by the Circle of Heroes at Veteran’s Reef Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors, including Sarah Bascom, Daniel Spears, Paul Matthews, JD White, Alyssa Rudd and Mike Bascom. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving the Circle of Heroes memorial and sharing its story with future generations.

All donations directly support the ongoing care and preservation of the memorial, including maintaining buoys and chains that mark the site’s boundaries and secure visiting boats, conducting site monitoring to ensure safety and environmental health, repairing and restoring statues, promoting public awareness, and funding the addition of new statues as the memorial continues to grow.

Sponsor a Statue

Any organization or entity that would like to sponsor any of the remaining statues on the list or repair a statue that has been damaged during past hurricanes, please contact us. Thank you for your interest.

Leave the Growth • Protect the Life

The statues are designed to become part of the marine environment, and over time, you will see coral, algae, and other organisms covering the surfaces. What may look like dirt or buildup is actually healthy growth that shows the reef is thriving. Attempting to clean the statues disrupts this growth and can damage marine life. The best way to support our mission is to admire the statues as they are – and let the ocean continue its work.

“We are deeply grateful that this reef has grown into such a meaningful landmark—not only for our local community, but for veterans across the nation. Thank you for visiting and preserving the longevity of this memorial for generations to come.”

Dr. Heyward Mathews